James Finlayson

On August the 27th 1887 in Larbert, Stirlingshire, Scotland, James Henderson Finlayson was born.

James “Jimmy” Finlayson arrived in America as part of a repertory company at the age of 24, having been an apprentice panel beater. In his early career he won the part of Rab Biggar in Bunty Pulls the Strings, a poplualr Broadway show, however he pulled out of the full theatrical tour in 1916 to attempt to make it in Hollywood.

Having worked at other comedy studios, including working for the illustrious Mack Sennett as one of the original Keystone Kops, Finlayson began working for Hal Roach and is most fondly remembered as the moustachioed foil in the Laurel and Hardy movies.

Initially Hal had tried to turn Jimmy into a star in his own right, starring alongside Oliver Hardy in Yes Yes Nanette (watch it on YouTube here), which was co directed by Stan Laurel. Though the efforts to pitch Finlayson as a star never really took hold, he was considered well-known enough to receive equal billing for some films, with publicity material referring to them as the “famous comedy trio”. The potential of Laurel and Hardy as a double act soon saw them over take the Scotsman in popularity, however ,he appeared in a total of 33 Laurel and Hardy films, playing large roles in such classics as Big Business and Way out West.

9 Responses to James Finlayson

It’s so refreshing to see the supporting artists such as Jimmy Finlayson remembered in this way. I remember, as a child, watching Finlayson in Laurel and Hardy two-reelers on Bob Monkouse’s ‘Golden Silents’ and being captivated by the way all three worked so effortlessly together. Ah, such happy memories.

Laurel and Hardy were the best two man comedy team of all! Thanks to men like Jimmy Finlayson,Charlie Hall,Billy Gilbert they made Stan and Ollie even better? Hal Roach was a icon,he knew funny when he saw it.

A super big fan of my beloved Stan and Ollie as well as “The Simpsons” I was a bit chagrined over Homer going D’oh! after all I had been going “D’ohhh!” or it’s variation “D’ohhhh-OH! all my life in imitation of the great James Finlayson. Then Homer comes along and popularizes it and now when I go “D’oh!” people must think I’m imitating Homer but I’m not!
Anyone who reads this who never saw “Big Business” have missed the funniest film ever made and the funniest moment of all time- and that is James Finlayson rolling on the ground tearing apart Christmas trees with his bare hands near the wrecked and burnt Stan and Ollie Mobile.
You hafta see it.

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James Finlayson was a great comedian with his false-looking eyes eyes and big moustache though he, like Charlie Chaplin, also regularly have shaved off and a false mustache glued again! He befriended famous Stan Laurel and it is absolutely unfortunate that Finlayson never has formed a trio with Laurel & Hardy. Another great opponent of Finlayson was Ben Turpin that very cross-eyed looked and possessed an almost similar moustache. Who knows had Turpin and Finlayson also a great duo formed while the former only 18 years older.